GN inspection saloon

[manna]

G'Day Gents

I'm looking for information on the GN inspection saloon that is currently on the Bluebell railway, I can remember seeing this coach inside the old Coronation shed at Wood Green back in the early 70's, when we were parking up the royal train, any information would be helpful.

Thank you

manna

[earlswood nob]

Morning Manna
What are you looking for regarding the GN inspection saloon?
I visit the Bluebell a couple of times a year and can take some pics if that's what you want.
The last time I saw it was at Horsted Keynes, but it must have been moved with the East Grinstead extension opening.
It gets crowded now. when I visited about a month ago there were two six coach trains running FULL.
Earlswood nob

[2512silverfox]

Approximately what period are you asking for? Photos exist and diagrams for most.

[MikeTrice]

From what I recall there is an Isinglass drawing of it. Drawing 130.

[manna]

G'day Gents

I was thinking about 1930-1940, I notice that it has Fox bogies, in the picture above, but I have seen it in older pics with Gresley bogies.

Also how would it have been used, one engine with the saloon, checking the track or paying a visit to some station ??? or a day out for the bosses !!

I did find out some information on the Bluebell site, thanks for the info so far.

manna

I reckon it'd make a good model

[Bill Bedford]

Also how would it have been used, one engine with the saloon, checking the track or paying a visit to some station ??? or a day out for the bosses !!

Err no, 'cos it wasn't an inspection saloon. It was a saloon for the use of the directors. The GN had a number of inspection saloons, but most were six wheelers, though one was a sixty footer on twelve wheels. There was also a bogie saloon for the use of the civil engineer and one for the CME.

[James Brodie]

Dear Sirs,
I have an 0 gauge model of the coach in question. Hope I can add the photo successfully.
Jim Brodie.

[hq1hitchin]

Err no, 'cos it wasn't an inspection saloon. It was a saloon for the use of the directors. The GN had a number of inspection saloons, but most were six wheelers, though one was a sixty footer on twelve wheels. There was also a bogie saloon for the use of the civil engineer and one for the CME.

Errr, yes it was used as an inspection saloon, certainly by the 1930s. Here it can be just seen at Crews Hill during that period while judging took place of the Best Kept Station competition. It was, and still is, fitted with klaxon horns at either end for use when being propelled. It wasn't just the Civils and the S&T who went out on inspections, the operators also did. Apart from once conveying John Betjeman from Finsbury Park to New England Yard on the rear of the Scotch Goods (John B described it as his Victorian drawing room, Richard Hardy as the General Managers Inspection Saloon - and Mr Betjeman came back that night from Peterborough up front on a Deltic with Chief Inspector Fred Hart), it was once actually briefly used in passenger traffic on BR as it was lent to the South Western division so that invited first class season ticket holders could inspect the progress of the Bournemouth electrification scheme from the rear of an express. Richard Hardy is Patron of the Howlden Trust, owners of 43909. By the time you saw it, Manna, a group of four of us had probably already bought it from BR as we paid the princely sum of £500 in 1969 but were allowed to keep it in the back of the Coronation Shed until 1971, free of charge, until we found a permanent home for it. During those two years, we were able to start upon its restoration, with splendid cooperation from the local staff.

[hq1hitchin]

Here's one of the old girl conveying passengers so they can inspect the progress of the Bournemouth electrification scheme. 8th Sept 1966 and departing Waterloo at the rear of the 16:35 B'omo. It was passed for 90mph running at that time, it must have been a bit lively.

[hq1hitchin]

Gerry Fiennes, then Line Traffic Manager, Kings Cross, out with his officers on a tour of the district in 1961 using Saloon 942090. We can identify all bar one. From left to right they are: C.G.(Cyril) Palmer Line Motive Power Officer GN, Gerry Fiennes, F.W. (Freddy) Wright , Line Commercial Manager GN, -------------?, Commander Gerald Affleck-Graves, Line PRO and S.D. (Stuart) Ward, Line Operating Manager GN. Real railwaymen

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Thank you Hitchin, for all that information, I see that in the Waterloo picture, she now has Gresley bogies, and in the Crews Hill pic, she is part of a very short train, suspect loco and coach.

Do you know where she was based prior to preservation, I also noticed the 'we'..........were you one of the preservers ??? if so congratulations, and a big thank you on saving this fine coach.

manna

[hq1hitchin]

The saloon was generally kept in the Coronation Shed at Hornsey in the 60s, Manna, but there's little info available now as to where she was kept before that although Highgate has been mentioned as pre-war stabling point. Thanks and yes, I was one of four young railwaymen, all local to the GN, who bought it from BR in 1969. It seemed the right thing to do at the time. Eventually it was moved via Channelsea, Clapham, Woking to Guildford to Haywards Heath for road haulage forward. We were lucky as it was charged as an empty private owners wagon Hornsey to Haywards Heath, very cheap! The bit from Channelsea to Woking was overnight and I travelled in the saloon, even though I was early turn the next morning. What it is to be young!. Here she is in Stevenage old station, on an inspection tour with a Bongo on the front. 3rd October 1961